Wrench.



G. A. BANGROPT.

WRENCH.

APPLIOATION FILED 11011.25. 1911.

1,032,871. 1 Patented July 16, 1912.

WITNESSES [NVENTOR I Allomeyi CHARLES A. BANCROFT, 0F NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1912.

Application filed November 25, 1911. Serial No. 662,375.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, CHARLES A. BANCROFT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to wrenches of the ratchet type, and the principal object of the same is to provide the tooth of the ratchet with an operating mechanism so that it may be turned and held in an adjusted position in order that the wrench may be used either as a right-hand or left-hand wrench.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of the wrench wit-h the cover plate removed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the wrench along the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the spring which holds the tooth in engagement with the ratchet. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the resilient band which holds the ratchet in place.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, it will-be seen that this invention comprises a handle which has an enlarged head 11. The head 11 is provided with a transversely extending opening 12, and with an annular groove 13 formed in the wall of the opening 12. A flange 14 is formed at one end of the opening 12 and forms a support for the nut engaging member 15. The nut engaging member 15 is provided with the ratchet teeth 16 which bear against the flange lt, and thus prevent the nut engaging member from slipping out of the opening 12. A resilient band 17 shown in Fig. 5 fits in the annular groove 13 and overhangs the ratchet teeth 16 so that the nut engaging member will be prevented from slipping out from that end of the opening 12. The band 17 is inserted by grasping the ends 18 and bracing the band so that it may fit into the opening 12. This permits the nut engaging member to be removed when desired, such for instance as when the opening 19 is either too large or too small for the nut which it is desired to engage.

The handle is provided with a pocket 20 leading from the opening 12 and in which the ratchet engaging mechanism is mounted.

This ratchet engaging mechanism comprises a pawl which is pivotally mounted in the pocket by means of a shaft 21 passing through its central portion 22 so that its end portions 23 will be positioned upon opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the wrench. The shaft 21 fits into a socket 24. in the bot-tom of the pocket 20. A shaft 25 carries a pin 26 which fits into a socket 27 so that the shaft 25 will be pivotally mounted behind the ratchet engaging pawl. The shaft 25 is provided with a transversely extending opening 28 through which a spring 29 passes. The outer ends 30 and 31 of the spring are bent toward the front end of the wrench and engage the ends 23 of the pawl so that the pawl will be held in the desired position. A plate 32 fits upon the outer portion of the shaft 25. The rear portion of the plate 32 fits into a seat 33 so that the plate will be prevented from turning when the shaft 25 is rotated by the operating mechanism. The outer end of the shaft is provided with a slot 34 in which the operating handle 35 is pivotally mounted. Before the handle 35 is connected with the shaft the plate 36 is placed upon the handle. This plate 36 is provided with openings through which the outer ends of the shafts 25 and 21 protrude so that the shafts will be held straight. The plate 36 is also provided with openings 37 which register with the sockets 38 formed in the handle. The handle 35 carries a spring 39 which passes through the slot 34 and beneath the forward portion of the plate 32. This handle is so mounted that when it is raised in order to bring the pin 40 out of the opening 37, the spring 39 will be compressed, thus having a tendency to normally hold the pin 4-0 in the opening 37.

If the pin 40 is in the center opening 37, the pawl will be held in the position shown in Fig. 1, so that the wrench may be rotated without turning the nut engaging member. If the handle is turned to move the pin to the lower opening in Fig. l, the arm 31 of the spring 29 will bring the end of the ratchet engaging pawl into engagement with the ratchet so that by moving the handle the ratchet may be rotated in that direction. If the nut is turned to bring the pin into the upper opening shown in Fig. 1, the arm 30 will bear against the ratchet engaging pawl so that its end of the pawl will be brought into contact wlth the ratchet portion,

thus causing the nut engaging member to be turned in that direction.

What is claimed is 1. A wrench comprising a body portion, nut engaging means mounted in said body a pawl pivotally mounted in said body portion intermediate its length, a shaft pivotally mounted insaid body portion and provided with a reduced and slotted outer end portion, a plate surrounding the slotted portion of said shaft, arms extending from said shaft to each side of said pawl, a lever pivotally mounted in the slotted end of said shaft, and a spring carried by said lever and passing'through the slot in said shaft with its inner end positioned beneath said plate.

- 2. In a wrench of the character described, an arcuate pawl adapted to be pivotally mounted intermediate its length, "a shaft having a reduced outer end portion forming a shoulder, the outer end portion of said shaft being slotted, a metallic strip passing CHARLES A. BANOR-OFT.

Witnesses W. W. GHEATHAM,

E. L. SILVESTER.

Caries 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

